Means for light or photo printing



May 19, 1936. M. NIEDERLE MEANS FOR LIGHT OR PHOTO PRINTING Filed June3, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 19, 1936.

M. NIEDERLE MEANS FOR LIGHT 0R PHOTO PRINTING Filed Jun 5. 193s 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Y QN I.

M. NIEDERLE MEANS FOR LIGHT ORPHOTO PRINTING May 19, 1936.

'4 sheets-sheet s Filed June 3. 1933 m om W,

May 1,9, 1936. M. NIEDERLE l MENS'FOR LIGHT OR PHOTO PRINTING 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June I5. 1933 Patented May 19. 1936 UNITED STATES"PATENT ori-ICE r2,041,478 MEANS Foa LIGHTl on Puo'ro PRINTING MaxNiederle, Miami, F1a. Application ,rune s, 193s, sei-m1 No. 614,229

8 Claims.

My invention relates to means for light or photo printing, vandparticularly to a mechanism adapted for, photorotary printing to obtainexact and perfect reproductions of any original, such as a photograph,painting, drawing, printed or drawn page, or other sheet, page or thelike, showing an original or reproduction, or any other material ordisclosure, that is capable or reproduction upon a dat surface.

Heretoi'ore attempts have been made to produce copies in semblance ofiacsimiles, by photographic, photo-engraving, photogravure,lithographie, stone, steel engraving zinc and copper plates and platesof other metals, and bythe use of many other means and methods, but ineach instance complicated and expensive types of presses, screens orline screens or other means of producing grain surface eifects, andcomplicated steps and procedures of production by photographicprocesses, transferring and reproduction, etching maireready, and thelike, requiring the services of highly trained experts and technicians,have been employed; and, even then the result is only'an attempt at afacsimile reproduction. With my apparatus an exact reproduction of anoriginal is obtained by the use of relatively simple and inexpensiveapparatus with completely satisfactory results by persons not expertlykand technically trained as heretofore. In this way the resultaccomplished is not an imitation of the original, but is a directreproductionr from a negative or other light transparent member.

An object of my invention is to provide means 'for printing orreproducingcontinuously upon a strip or web of paper, or other suitablematerial, to give successive reproductions from the original negative,or the like, at rapid speeds of production, and with each reproductionsubstantially identical in lights and tone, and to provide foradjustments and variations to accomplish substantially perfect photoprinting from al1 kinds, densities, and varieties of transparentmembers.

Another object is to so construct the apparatus that continuous,substantially instantaneous, unlform, and perfect contact printing isaccomplished.

A further object is to provide mechanism for continuous light printing,employing as the source of light, a neon tube or other' similar memberprojecting a high intensity of light without giving off heat, whichemanationof light is high in sensitive rays and is yet produced with aminimum consumption of current, as compared with incandescent, arc,mercury vapor and other lights heretofore used, thus making possibleadjustments and variations in the disposition of the tubular lightsource to dispose the same in proper proximity to the light transparentmember, Without danger or excessively heating, cracking, or otherwiseinjuring the light transparent member, or the material in contacttherewith, or causing expansion or contraction of parte or themechanism, through variations ci temperature, to thus destroy orinterfere with perfect alignment and registry.

Still another purpose of this invention is to provide as a source ofiight einanation, one or more light tubes adjustahly mounted to thusvary the direct penetration of light rays therefrom, and means tocontrol the quantity and intensity oi rthe printing light ray permittedto penetrate the transparency.

Another object is to provide focusing or diffusing means, as forinstance a condensing lens, which will concentrate the printing lightrays on a continuous line throughout the entire width or length of thetransparency as it is progressively advanced.

Yet another object is to attain and maintain a complete and perfectnon-shifting contact and alignment, and a uniform speed oitravel oi thetransparency and the material being printed upon, while being carriedthrough the printing light ray area.

A further object is to provide means, in conjunction with the lighttubes, or other source of light, for adjusting and focusing or diusingthe light rays therefrom, which means can be in the form of an elongatedlens, and which with the light tubes is relatively adjustable to varythe focusing and concentration of the strip or line of-printing light,or diiusance and widening of the same.

Another purpose is to provide an apparatus by which light or photoprints can be made with closest and most accurate registry andplacement, with each print accurately sized and dimensioned accordingtothe original' or transparency, thus particularly adapting themechanism and process for use in producing prints, and the like, to besubsequently overprinted with coloring or other matter, thereproductions being thus admirably suited for multi-coloring.

A'further object is to so construct the apparatus that a screen can beinterposed or otherwise used to give continuous reproductions of thescreen itself, or to produce screened, grained, or other varied effectsin light printing through a combination with the transparency of ascreen or sur- Zit facing or treatment, to give the desired effect inthe finished light print.

A still further object is to provide apparatus for accomplishing lightprinting by a continuous ro,-

tary production, at high speeds limited only by the capacity of themechanical elements and the sensitiveness of the printing surface, whichapparatus can be usedto print quickly and cheaply on one or both sidesof a strip or web of material, with a minimum requirement of time,effort and skill in the preparation and makeready, and which apparatusis of such simple and inexpensive character and construction, that itcan be installed at low cost, while the operation is carried out with l5a minimum consumption of current for light sources and the like. l

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, my

invention includes certain novel features of construction. assembly andoperation, and certain novel steps in the preparation and the process ormethod of use, which will be hereinafter set forth in connection withthe drawings, and then pointed out in the claims. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation diagrammatlcalhr showing one formof my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of themechanism at the printing end.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the printingrollers.

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the roller.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one form ofprinting roller that might be employed.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially on line l-- of Fig.5.

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l-I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view through one form of transparencyproducing means.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on line ill- I0 ofFig. 9.

As the parts are shown in Figure 1 they constitute a complete equivalentof mechanism adapted to sensitize or otherwise treat a continuous web,strip or sheet of paper, the light or photo printing means, and thenmeans for developing, stopping, fixing, washing and drying the paper asprinted, to thus permit the supply of paper at one end of the machineand the discharge of a printed and completely finished sheet at theother end, which sheet is ready for cutting, folding, or other treat-`ment, as may be desired.

Referring to Figure l, the roll of paper indicated at I is passed firstthrough a sensitizing or treat-` ing tray 2, then through a suitabledryer or processing apparatus 2, after which it ispassed around printingroll l, for printing one side, and then around printing roll l, forprinting the other side. The web, strip or sheet, of paper or othersuitable material, is then carried through a developer tank 8, isconducted through a tank 1 in which it is subjected to developerstopper, through tank 8 where hypofixing is accomplished, through awater bath tank 0, and then through dryer I0. 'I'he strip, web or sheetis thus supplied in uncoated or untreated condition at one end of themachine and is discharged at the other end as a completely printed,permanently xed and dried sheet, web or strip, that can be cut, folded,and, otherwise treated or handled, as may be desired.

It is preferable that the apparatus be mounted cess moisture.

on a base Il and be enclosedin a case I2 so that it will be aself-contained unit and can be readily transported and can be moved atwill to any place where it is desired for use. On the other hand, themain printing portions only can be employed, 5 in which instance thesensitized or properly coated paper will be supplied at one end and,after proper exposure and light or photo printing, will be discharged atthe other end ready for development, fixing, drying and the like. IThisexposed strip, 10 sheet or web can be rolled or otherwise assembled andwhen properly cased and protected can be taken from the machine to betransported and taken to a photographic laboratory or other place wheredevelopment, fixing and drying can 'oe con- 15 veniently andexpeditiously accomplished.

In the complete mechanism as shown, a motor yshaft i3 has thereon apinion meshing with drive gear Il, which in turn meshes with the gearpinion I5. This gear pinion I5 in turn meshes with 20 intermediatepinion I8 having its teeth meshed with gear ring Il associated withroller 5. Through this arrangement and intergearing, roll I is revolvedin clockwise direction, while roll 5 is turned in counterclockwisedirection, both rolls 25 preferably moving at the same speed. A wormgear Il driven from gear I1, or the roll 5, meshes with worm i9 torevolve shaft 20. This shaft 20 has thereon a worm gear 2| through whichrotary motion is imparted through worm gear 22 to a 30 roller 23 bywhich the strip or web 2| is drawn through thedryer Il! and is held inproper tension as it progresses through the various mechanisms andportions of the machine.

While the emulsion carrying tray 2 is shown 35 with an immersion roller25 dipping the strip 24 into the tray to be coated or treated on bothsides, and a squeegee or wiper 26 is illustrated on the discharge sideto remove excess moisture, this arrangement might be'varied so that both40 sides of the strip, web or sheet will be treated by contact withmoisture or emulsion carrying rollers, or so that only a single sidewill be coated or treated. Suitable squeegee or other wiper or likemechanism or parts can be used 45 at the discharge side cf each of thetanks 6, 1, 8, and 9 to remove excess chemicals or moisture, or thesheet, strip or web, can be passed through between rollers serving topress out ex- Where the strip or web is to be sensitized and developed,fixed and treated, within the machine, it will be found highly desirableto provide and use a case i2, having this light proof and preferablyproviding window or view openings at 55 suitable points closed by rubyglass 'or other material that will afford protection to thelightsensitive coating or material. However, if desired, the machine canbe employed without the case I2, when used in a dark room or other 6Uplace suitably protected against ingress of light to affect thelight-sensitive material. It may be found desirable to use the machinein a room or compartment having the characters! the air controlled, asto temperature and hu- U5 midity, to thus insure ideal operating andworking conditions irrespective of normal atmospheric temperature andhumidity conditions. However, for reasons to be hereinafter more fullyexplained it is not necessary toprovide cooling 70 means of any sort todraw oil heat generated by operation of the machine, for the reason thatthere is low generation of heat, except possibly the heat of friction ofmoving parts, during the operation of my improved mechanism. 75

As intimated, the construction and arrangement from which the web orstrip 24 is passed after leaving roll i, through tray 2, tanks 6, 1, 8,and 9, and dryer I0, can be of various arrange-y ments and constructionssuitable to meet the particular requirements of use, and the mainmechanical'features of my invention are embodied in the rollers 4 and 5and the parts and mechanisms appurtenant thereto.

The rollers, which can be madeup to be substantially duplicates, havehollow glass cylinders, 21, of elongated form, accurately sized, andpreferably ground or otherwise treated to be of substantially uniformexternal diameter throughout their entire lengths and to be free ofhollows or other surface irregularities; and, where two rollers are usedas illustrated in Figs. .l and 2, the glass cylinders 21 will beaccurately shaped and sized so that the roller 4 will be ofsubstantially the same diameter, and consequently the same peripheral orsurface circumference as the roller 5. This hollow glass cylinder 21 ispreferably provided with an inner bearing ring 28 at each end, and aring gear 29 is mounted externally at one end, suitable cushion packingsbeing preferably introduced at 30 and 3| to guard against breakage ofthe cylinder 21 and to insulate the end of the cylinder against heattransmission from the bearing ring 28 and the ring gear 29, which inoperation are working parts of the machine and might thus` befrictionally heated. Hollow shafts 32 and 33 are provided at each endfor mounting of the tubular glass roller 21, and bearing rings 34 arevprovided on these tubular shafts 32` and 33. To reduce friction to aminimum, it is preferable that the bearing rings 28 and 34 be providedwith suitable ball races to receive ball bearings A35, although otherforms of friction reducing bearings `can be employed. By thisconstruction, arrangement and mounting of the parts, the glass cylinders21 are given a substantially free fioating revoluble mounting on thetubular shafts 32 and 33, and through the driving connections. As aboveset forth these cylinders 21 of the two rolls 4 and 5 will be rotated inopposite directions at substantially uniform speed and with substantially uniform surface travel.

Through the openings of the hollow vshafts 32 and 33, or through othersuitable openings, one or more neon light tubes 36 are disposed toextend substantially throughout the length of the open part of theroller glass cylinders 21, and thesetubes 36 are preferably mounted andheld to be adjustable with respect to a predetermined printing or lightprojecting point or location. As the parts are shown in Figs. land 2,this light projecting or printing point will be, in connection with roll4, preferably on the upper side substantially at point A, whereas onroller l5 the printing point is preferably on the lower side-substantially at point B, it having been found that such arrangement isconvenient for use.

Shaft portions 32 and 33 are fixed or held against rotation with thecylinder 21, and an adjustable shutter made up of the two semitubularmembers 31 and 38 is mounted within -the cylinder 21 to be in closeproximity to the inner wall of the cylinder and yet sufficiently clearthe same to not interfere in any way with free rotation of the glasscylinder, or contact with the inner surface thereof during rotation.Through the medium of adjusting shafts 39 and 40 extending through aportion of the stationary shaft members 32 and 33, and pinion means 4Ithereof.

and 42 carried by these shafts and working in suitable racks on theshutters.the shutter members 31 and 38 can be adjusted to vary the widthof the opening 43 between the spaced edges A reflector `44 is preferablymounted within the shutter members 31 and 33 to extend longitudinally ata point opposite the adjustable exposure light opening 43, and the lighttubes 35 are suitably arranged within' the reflector. An elongated orprismatic lens 45 is mounted between the light tubes 36 and the lightemitting opening 43, and this lens 45 is preferably adjustablesubstantially on a radial line of the adjustable toward and bfrom theouter surface of the glass cylinder 21 on a line radially from thecenter of rotation of the cylinder. Adjustments of the lens are fixedand held by clamp nuts 41.

The light tubes 36 are also preferably adjust* able, and as these partsare shown in Fig. 5, slots 48 are provided substantially radially in theend portions carried by the shafts 32 and 33 so that the tubes 36 can bemoved and adjustedV on lines substantially radiating from the rotatingcenter or axis of cylinder 21. it is to be understood that the two endsof the tubes 35 will be adjusted and these adjustments can be fixed andheld by clamp bolts 49, as shown in Fig. 8, or other suitablefastenings. With this arrangement of adjustably mounted shutters 31 and38, adjustable lens 45, and adjustable tubes 3S, the light emittingopening at 43 can be substantially entirely closed, can be opened as avery narrow slit, or can be opened to a considerable extent to give awide gap or space. The light tubes 35 can. be adjusted to any desiredsettings, within their limit of movement, to thus vary their positionand concentrate or spread the field of light emanatlon; and, lens 45 canbe adjusted to vary the concentration of light at the focal line alongthe outer surface of the cylinder 2i, which focal line is substantiallycentered along the glass roller 21 at a point indicated at C in Fig. 5,it will be appreciated that the adjustment of the lens d5 permitsfocusing to draw down and concentrate the center of light projection atthe surface of glass cylinder 21 to a hair line, or that this line oflight projection can be widened on each side of line C to thus give awider light band less concentrated and more diffused.. At the same time,the shutters 31 and 38 can be moved to vary the light emitting openingat 43. While I have described the focal line or center -as at C andextending longitudinally on the outer In Fig. 8 I have shown a slightlydifferent and modified arrangement of the parts, and here the slots 50in which the light tubes 36 are adjustable are shown extending orsubstantially emanating from the focal light center. This arrangementpermits full adjustment of the tubes 36 and the tubes are thusadjustable in a definite relation with respect to the lens and the focalcenter line longitudinally on the periphery of glass cylinder 21. By theuse of neon tubes, giving brilliant lighting effects rich in photoprinting rays, concentrating these rays by the use of the lens 45, andadjusting the lens, it is possible to secure clear and sharp prints eventhough the glass cylinders of the rollers 4 and 5 be very rapidlyrotated. andsthe speed of print ing and operation with my improvedmachine is limited substantially onLv by safe speeds at which themechanical parts can be operated, as the concentrated and strong photoor light printing rays will accomplish instantaneous printing at anydesired speed.

The glass cylinder 21 has a photographic nlm, a light sensitized coatingto be made into a negative, a sheet of any suitable transparent subjecthaving the negative material drawn, printed, or otherwise placedthereon, or in fact has the printing negative applied thereto in anydesired manner that will substantially accomplish a light transparentnegative upon or around the outer surface of the glass cylinder 21.

Tlusnegative is, of course, adherent to or in close contact with thesurface of the glass cylinder 21 passing the line C of light center. Tocarry the web or strip 24 in proper contact with the surfaceof cylinder21 of therollers 4 and 5, I provide contact feed webs 5I made-in theform of endless belts and carried over rollers 52 so that the feed beltswill have a portion of their length disposed around a part of thecircumference of each of the cylinders 21 to thus conduct the web aroundthe roller 21 and hold the strip 2l in close contact with the surface ofthe roller. A direct contact roller 52 can be provided bearinglongitudinally against the feed belt 5i substantially along the centerof light contact, at C. With this arrangement, the sensitized strip 24is fed and led around the cylinder 21 with its sensitized face directlyin contact with the negative face of the cylinder 21, and as the lightrays are directed through the cylinder roller 21 and through the film, aphoto or light print will be made upon the sensitized strip or material.As the parts are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the printing roller I exposesone sensitized side of the strip and the roller 5 exposes the otherside, and thus both sides will be subjected to light printing while thestrip or sheet is being carried through the mechanism, and due to thedrive connections the printings on the two sides of the strip will bemaintained in accurate and uniform registry. As the exposure whenpassing the printing or photo light strip'is of very short duration, thelignt rays will not penetrate from one side to the other of the strip2l, even though this be a relatively thin paper, it of course beingunderstood that the strip 24 has a highly sensitive surface andtherefore requires only short exposure.

while the light tubes as will give substantially equal and uniformillumination throughout the entire length of the printing portions ofthe cylinders 21, in some work it may be desirable to work with a narrowstrip 2l of paper. or other material, and where this is done the ends ofthe rolls 21, or any other part thereof, can be blocked out to preventpenetration of light. Two or more negatives can be combined in anydesired manner upon the roller, and any desired portions can be blankedout for after printing of any special matter, or type can be printed inand photographed or otherwise shown, the same being true with linedrawings and in fact any other matter.

Where it is desired to accomplish finished 5 printings having the effectof line screen work, a screen wet plate collodion negative can bestripped to the roller )21; and, it is to be understood that variousgrained or other screen effects can be employed to suit the particularprinted effect to be accomplished.

While the negative can be applied to,` affixed around or assembled uponthe glass roller 21 in various manners, it may be found desirable tocoat, by spraying upon, flowing, or otherwise applying a sensitizedmaterial, directly upon the surface of the glass cylinder 21 of theroller, and where this is done a positive is applied around. the roller21, as indicated at 54, and the roller is then rotated with a line oflight directed to penetrate through the positive and thus createanegative light print in the sensitized coating. This sensitized coatingcan then be developed and fixed, and then dried, in the usual manner andthe roller will be prepared for photo or light printing as set forthabove.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have illustrated means adaptable for use inpreparing a negative directly upon the glass cylinder 21, and as hereshown the elongated prismatic lens 5B is mounted in a casing 51 to beadjustable toward and from a light center D extending longitudinallyalong the cylinder 21. As the lens 5B is adjustable, it can be focusedvery accurately to project a hairline of light through the positive 54to print the sensitized coating 55, or this lens 56 can be adjusted togive a wider line of light, which wider line is necessarily less intenseand more diifused. One or more light tubes 58, which are also preferablyneon tubes, or other tubes giving a brilliant light 40 high in photo orlight printing rays, 'and yet without the generation of heat, is mountedwithin the case 51, and a reector 59 is provided to concentrate the raystoward the lens 56. As here shown, three tubes 58 are employed and these45 are adjustably mounted in radially Aextending slots in the ends ofthe case4 51 so that they can be adjusted toward and from the lens 5t.In this way, the light can be not only focused through lens 56 toincrease or decrease the width 50 and brilliancy of the light at theprinting line D, but the tubes 58 can be adjusted, and one or more tubescan be used, to thus increase or decrease the quantity of lightavailable for focusing and concentration throughy the lens 55.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for lightor photo printing adi mirably adapted for use in projecting accurate anduniform exposure and light prints, which means is well suited for use inprinting large 50 quantities of syndicate pictures, post cards, or othermatter, as well as for printing circulars, pictorial supplements,magazine or'book pages, and many other members of paper or other stripyns ori sheet material, which have heretofore been and used, to thusgive accurate reproductions, not

imitation photography, but true photographs with all of the lights,shadows and tones of the original preserved. Whereas with the variousplanographic printing processes it has heretofore been necessary to makeseparate negatives and transfers, to etch the printing surface, and tocarry through complicated processesv and procedures requiring theservices and handling of specially skilled artisans, and even then theresult produced is only a printed reproduction, with my improvedapparatus positive original lphotographic prints are obtained and areproduced at a speed and cost Well comparable with planographic andprinting reproductions.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specic mechanicalconstructions vand assemblies, it will be appreciated that many changesand variations can be made in the form, construction, assembly, mountingand operation of the mechanism, without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. f

I claim:

1. Means for light printing comprising, a revoluble tubular transparentroller having a light transparent negative advanced with its outersurface, a light tube disposed within the tubular roller to givepenetrating light rays substantially equally throughout the lengththereof, means to advance sensitized paper with said roller past apredetermined photo printing line extending along the length thereof, anelongated/lens also within the transparent roller between the printingline and the light tube, and means to adjust said lens to focus andconsequentlyvary the width of the photo or light line.

2. Means for photo or light printing comprising, a revoluble tubulartransparent roller having a light transparent negative movable with itsouter surface, an elongated source of light Within the tubular roller, alens also disposed Within said roller, means to advance a sensitizedstrip as the roller is revolved so that the strip travels With thetransparent negative, and means to adjust said lens toward and from thetransparent cylinder to focus the rays from the light tube and create aprinting light line penetrating the transparent negative to reach thesensitized strip, the

adjustment of said lens permitting variation of the width andconcentration of the printing light line.

3. Means for photo or light printing comprising, a revoluble tubulartransparent roller having a light transparent negative movable with itsouter surface, an elongated light tube mounted against rotation withinthe tubular roller, a lens also held against rotation Within saidroller, means to advance a sensitized strip as the roller is revolved sothat the strip travels with the transparentI negative, means to adjustsaid lens toward and from the transparent cylinder to x focus the raysfrom the light tube and create a a light transparent negative movablewith its outer surface, an elongated light tubemounted against rotationWithin the tubular roller, a lens also held against rotation within saidroller, means to advance a sensitized strip as the roller is revolved sothat the strip travels with the transparent negative, means to adjustsaid lens toward and from the transparent cylinder to focus the raysfrom the light tube and create a printing light line penetrating thetransparent negative tolreach the sensitized strip, the adjustment ofsaid lens permitting variation of the width and concentration of theprinting light line, and means to permit adjustments and hold relativesettings of the light tube to vary the disposition of said light tubewith respect to the lens.

5. Means for photo or light printing comprising, a revoluble tubulartransparent roller having a light transparent negative carried andadvanced with its outer surface, means to advance a light sensitivestrip ,in unison with 4the travel of the light transparent negative, aplurality of cool-operating light tubes disposed within the tubularroller to emanate light rays substantially in equal volume throughoutthe length thereof, means to conne the light rays to penetrate saidtransparent roller and the transparent negative in a line extendingvlongitudinally to thus affect the sensitized strip in a projected lightline progressively throughout its length as advanced in unison with thetransparent negative, means adjustably supporting said light tubes to beindependently and severally adjustable toward and from the line of lightprinting emanation, and an elongatedlens interposed within the trans-'parent roller between the light tubes and the desired line of lightemanation and adjustably mounted to be focused to varythe Width andintensity oi light ray projected on the line of penetration through thetransparent negative.

6. Means for photo or light printing comprising, a revoluble tubulartransparent roller having a light transparent negative associated withand carried upon its outer surface as the roller is revolved, means toadvance a strip of sheet material having a sensitized face in unisonwith the rotation of the roller and the consequent travel of the lighttransparent negative, a neon light tube extending through said tubulartransparent roller and held against rotation, an elongated lens alsodisposed and held against rotation within the tubular transparent rollerand interposed between the neon tube and a predetermined photo printingposition, means to adjust the proximity of the neon light with respectto the lens, means to adjust said lens to focus the light rays topenetrate in a line through the transparent roller and through thenegative to thus aiect the strip of sensitized material, and shuttermeans also disposed within the tubular transparent roller and heldagainst rotation therewith to mask against escape of emanated light raysfrom the tube and adjustable to positively vary the width of focusedlight rays permitted to pass.

7. Means for light printing upon sensitized sheet strip materialcomprising, a revoluble hollow roller having the wall thereof penetrableto light and having a negative associated with the wall, an elongatedneon light tube mounted Within the hollow roller and extendingsubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation to emanate light rayssubstantially equally throughout the extent of the negativel along theroller, means to revolve the roller, means to hold asensitized strip totravel with the roller and consequently the negative, and an elongatedlens also disposed within the roller between the neon light tube and thenegative to focus light rays from the tube 5 low roller having the wailthereof penetrublef to light and having a negative associated with thewall, sn elongated neon light tube mounted within t the hollow rollerand extending substantially parallel with the sxis of rotation toemanate lo light nys substantially equally'throughout theextentotthsnetivedongtherolienmeansto revolve the roller means to holda. sensitized strip to travel with the roller andconsequently thenegative, an elongated lens also disposed within the roller between theneon iight tube and the negative to focus light rays from the tube topenetrate the negative and act upon the sensitized strip substantiallyin a line. and means to adjust and focus s aid elongated lens to varythe relative position thereof between the neon tube and the negative.

MAX NIEDERIE.

